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As a child, she played for the Raleigh Youth Hockey Association (RYHA). She started playing with boys as a goaltender. In later years, she would graduate to playing in a girls program on defense.

She would spend four years at Shattuck-St. Mary's, while winning a USA Hockey national championship in 2009. The following year, she would be a runner up. As a sophomore, she was the captain of the girls U16 team. In her senior season, she was an assistant captain with the girls U19 team. She appeared in 36 games, and logged eight goals and 25 assists for 33 points with 18 minutes in penalties. During her time at Shattuck St. Mary's, she assisted USA Hockey in their fundraising efforts to gain support for earthquake ravaged Haiti.[1]

In her freshman season (2010-11), she played in all 35 Big Red games. On November 26, 2010, versus the Niagara Purple Eagles, she registered three assists. The next day, she would get two more assists for the Big Red. Statistically, she had four straight games with an assist. Said streak began on January 18, 2011 versus the Mercyhurst Lakers and ended on January 28 against the Union Dutchwomen. In the 2011 postseason, she earned her first career playoff point with an assist in the ECAC Hockey championship game against Dartmouth (contested on March 5, 2011).

The first goal in her sophomore season was scored against Dartmouth on November 11, 2011. In her next match (November 12 vs. Harvard), Gagliardi logged three points. A week later, Gagliardi scored a game winning goal in a November 19 victory over Princeton. During the 2012 postseason, head coach Doug Derraugh called her an unsung hero for her shot blocking and work efforts. Against Brown, she earned two assists in the ECAC Quarterfinals. Versus Quinnipiac, Gagliardi's goal and assist contributed to a victory to earn a spot in the ECAC Championship game.